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| Doug Beavers Rovira isn’t the first bandleader to reach out to the “diminutive demographic,” but he may be the first to do so without pretense or condescension. In other words, Rovira doesn’t play “down” to toddlers and children, he raises them “up” by clothing nearly a dozen nursery rhymes and songs in clever orchestral arrangements that would please even the hippest adult listeners. Blend in charming vocals by Matt Catingub and Linda Harmon and you have Jazz, Baby! Coincidentally, Jazz Baby (sans comma or exclamation mark) is the name of a two-disc set released not long ago by Casablanca Records, but unlike Rovira’s self-contained enterprise, it’s a compilation featuring such well-known singer/entertainers as Rosemary Clooney, Billy Preston, Dr. John, Cybill Shepherd, Janis Siegel, Jim Belushi, Freddy Cole, Barbara Morrison, Claudia Acuña and Kymberly Evans. Also unlike Rovira’s big-band album, the “Jazz” content is sporadic, not steady. Rovira’s choice of material is delightful, from “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” and The Hokey Pokey” to “Itsy Bitsy Spider,” “Shortnin’ Bread,” “Comin’ Round the Mountain,” “The Ants Go Marching In,” “Hush Little Baby” and “You Are My Sunshine.” At the end, Harmon ushers in nap-time with a soft and gentle version of the “Brahms Lullaby.” Are toddlers ready for a regular diet of jazz? One can always hope. In any event, there’s no harm in exposing them to it. I raised my three on steady doses of Stan Kenton, Count Basie, Woody Herman, Buddy Rich, Zoot Sims, Stan Getz and others. Did it work? Well, I can’t honestly say they’re as passionate about jazz as their old man, but they at least understand and appreciate it, along with other kinds of music. For those who have toddlers, or who simply love children’s songs, Rovira‘s Jazz, Baby! is warmly recommended. -Jack Bowers, All About Jazz.com
"La Perfecta II was born from the chance opportunity of Doug Beavers' diligent effort to recover the music that had long since been retired. Mr. Beavers' brilliantly transcribed the original compositions of La Perfecta. For the efforts of Mr. Beavers, the new millennium finds me truly grateful." -Eddie Palmieri, liner notes from La Perfecta II | ||||||
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"La Perfecta II carries the repertory movement into Latin dance music, with the old "trombanga" arrangements transcribed by the trombonist Doug Beavers. The concert at Carnegie Hall reunited Eddie Palmieri with Ismael Quintana, who sang with the original La Perfecta. Mr. Quintana brought fevered passion to lovers' pleas like "Verdad Amarga". For that song, Mr. Beavers had transcribed one of Barry Rogers' original trombone solos for the horn section (two trombones and trumpet), a reminder of how much modernist daring Mr. Rodgers had brought to the group." - Jon Pareles, New York Times
"But then Doug Beavers did these arrangements of some of the original La Perfecta material. We played them in the rehearsal studio and what I heard really got to me. Then I forgot about being blasphemous to the original performances. These new arrangements are worthy of La Perfecta. They excite you and they get you to dance." -Eddie Palmieri, from the Boston Herald
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Brian
Lynch, Doug Beavers, and Conrad Herwig
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"However, presented with the diligent transcriptions of La Perfecta's recordings by trombonist Doug Beavers, Palmieri felt the time had come for this music to be heard anew. What a gift. The music has just as much fire and energy as the originals, but references the best of progressive modern jazz arranging. Beavers even arranged one of Rogers' solos (on "Tirandote Flores") for three trombones." -Matt Collar, All Music Guide "Doug Beavers' arrangement on "It Was A Very Good Year" is the album's most progressive arrangement." (Shake Your Hula Hips, The Big Kahuna Band) -JAZZIZ Magazine |  |
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wWith Mingus Big Band @ the Iridium, NYC. ( |
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